A vicious thug who has a horrendous record for crimes of violence is back behind bars after police found him carrying a knife while he was drunk.

The latest offence to be committed by Kevin Alexander, who has previous convictions for serious crimes such as attempted murder, only came to light after he was found lying asleep outside a pub in freezing conditions.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard that police tried to help 25-year-old Alexander as they were concerned for his wellbeing.

Officers helped him to his feet from a grassy area in Castle Street, Paisley, and bundled him into the back of a police vehicle so they could take him to his girlfriend’s home in the town’s Glen Street.

However, when they opened the door to help him out after arriving at the house, he was seen to throw away a lock-knife that he had been holding in his hands in the open-blade position.

Alexander claimed that, earlier that day, he had been given a jacket to wear by his brother and had found the knife, as he fumbled in his pockets for house keys.

He added that, after finding the blade, he foolishly tried to get rid of it because he knew he would be in trouble if it was discovered.

However, Alexander was convicted after trial of having unlawful possession of the knife in public on January 28 without explanation or reasonable excuse.

The court was told that, had he left the weapon in his pocket, it would never have been found, as police had not detained or arrested him and were only providing him with help to get some shelter from the cold.

Before sentencing Alexander, Sheriff Neil Douglas took note of his lengthy list of previous convictions, which include attempted murder, assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement and assault to the danger of life.

He also has a conviction for escaping from custody.

The court heard that Alexander, of Cromer Way, Paisley, had previously been jailed for six years, with a three-month extended sentence applied in 2008 for assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

And, once his latest crime came to light, he was sentenced to serve an 18-month unexpired portion of that jail term by the High Court.

Sheriff Douglas jailed Alexander for a further 40 months, to run from the expiry of the High Court recall period, and told him he had received the lengthy jail term due to the serious nature of the offence and his past record.